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Jennings expected to play despite hamstring

Jennings expected to play despite hamstring

9/30/13: Craig Gentry fields a base hit to left and fires a heads-up throw to second to catch Desmond Jennings trying to stretch for two

By Rhett Bollinger
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MLB.com |

CLEVELAND -- Rays center fielder Desmond Jennings, who has been dealing with tightness in his left hamstring, is expected to be in the lineup for Wednesday night's American League Wild Card Game against the Indians at 8 p.m. ET on TBS.

Jennings made his return in Monday's 5-2 win against the Rangers in Game 163 after behind held out of the lineup for eight straight days. He went 1-for-3 with a walk before being replaced for defensive purposes in the seventh.

Jennings tested his hamstring on the first pitch of the game, as he hit a broken-bat line drive down the left-field line but was easily thrown out by Craig Gentry as he tried to stretch the hit into a double.

But Rays manager Joe Maddon still liked what he saw from Jennings, and said he anticipates him playing again on Wednesday.

"Desmond is doing really well," Maddon said on Tuesday. "You saw him play last night. The first ball down the line, I don't even know if under normal circumstances it would've been closer, but Gentry made a nice play on it. Overall, I'd say he's about 85 percent. He swung the bat really well last night so he should be fine for tomorrow night."

The Rays, however, did not officially announce their postseason roster, as it's expected to be released at 10 a.m. on Wednesday.